Six emerging artists compete for O'Ryan Award

Anyone seeking artistic inspiration should take in the new exhibition at ArtsMemphis.

Twelve local talents chosen as influential emerging artists have their work on display. The dozen were chosen by local arts organizations over the past three years to vie for the Metropolitan Bank's annual Emmett O'Ryan Award for Artistic Inspiration.

Six of the artists are nominees this year to win the award, which will be announced on Feb. 28. The winner will receive a $2,000 cash award, and his or her nominating organization will receive $500.

"In recognizing and rewarding emerging and promising artists, it creates interest in innovation and vibrant art and makes a financial stake in the person and organization they value," says Lauren Boyer, new media and marketing manager of ArtsMemphis.

The award was first given in 2011. It's named for a founding board member of the bank who was an artist and art collector who died in 2009.

Nominees come from local arts organizations and are selected by a committee of bank members and a member of the O'Ryan family. The criteria are that the artists are emerging in their field and engaged in the community.

This year's six nominees, whose work range from painting to sculpture to photography:

Elisha Gold, nominated by Crosstown Arts.

Jared Small, nominated by the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

Thomasin Durgin, nominated by the UrbanArt Commission.

Alan Spearman, nominated by Indie Memphis.

Bill Price, nominated by the Memphis College of Art.

Andrew Meers, nominated by the National Ornamental Metal Museum.

Last year, four artists were nominated, and sculptor and mixed-media artist Anthony D. Lee won the award.